Arnesen confirms Lukaku liking

Romelu Lukaku: Could be sent on loan next season

Hamburg chief Frank Arnesen has confirmed his admiration for Chelsea starlet Romelu Lukaku.

Lukaku joined the Blues last summer from Anderlecht in a deal worth over £15million.

The 18-year-old has failed to make a huge impact on the first team and has admitted he would like to go on loan next season.

A host of teams have been linked and Hamburg are one of those, where former Chelsea sporting director Arnesen is in charge, but the Dane feels that his former club may look to keep hold of Lukaku next term.

"Lukaku is a great talent, but at the moment everything indicates that Chelsea want him at the club next year," said Arnesen.

Arnesen has maintained strong ties with Chelsea following his time there and in the past 12 months has signed Michael Mancienne, Slobodan Rajkovic, Jacopo Sala and Gokhan Tore, and took Jeffrey Bruma on loan.

And Arnesen is believed to want more than just Lukaku with fellow Belgians Thibaut Courtois and Kevin de Bruyne on his radar.

Goalkeeper Courtois also joined Chelsea last summer, but was dispatched on loan to Atletico Madrid where he has impressed.

De Bruyne, yet another Belgium international, agreed a deal to join Chelsea in January from Genk and he has remained where he is until the summer, but again a loan seems a possibility and Hamburg are strongly linked.